Starting apparatus for race tracks



May 16, 1950 PlERCE 2,507,994

STARTING APPARATUS FOR RACE TRACKS Filed May 22, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

May 16, 1950 H. A. PIERCE 2,507,994

STARTING APPARATUS FOR RACE TRACKS Filed May 22, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jig.Z.

20 75 I 5/ INVENTOR.

A T TORNFY.

May 16, 1950 H. A. PIERCE 2,507,994

STARTING APPARATUS FOR RACE TRACKS Filed May 22, 1947- 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 7W 4 @W I M L w A TTORIVEX Patented May 16, 1950 U NITE D STAT ES FATENT 6 F'FICE 2,507,994, s'rartrINQ ArBArtn'rUs FOR RACE TRACKS l'loward Ari-Pierce, Hamburg, N. Y. Applica ion iter. 1947,. ria 9 7 2 Claims. (01. 119- 155) This invention relates generally to a raceestarte Another object of the invention is to p v a sulky race startingapparatus which is'adapted to be installed along th e'tracig or race-way so' as not to obstruct the view of those attending such races and which willefiectually prevent the delays and. other. objections now encountered in the starting of sulky or so-called harness races.

A further object is to provide a simple, compact and reliable starting apparatus for sulky racing which is electrically controlled and positive in operation, and which can be governed remote- 13; from a single control tower or station along the track.

Other ieatures of the invention reside in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims:

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective viewof the starting apparatus embodying myinvention. Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view thereof showing one of the carriages, with the enclosing body removed, and. associatedparts. Figure 3' is a fragmentary side view thereof. Figure 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4, Figure 2. Figure 5 is a flagmentary perspective view of one of the carriages showing the manner of supporting the barrier tape thereon.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, It! indicates that portion or stretch of the track or race-way along which the races are started, II and i2 indicate inner and outer fences paralleling the race-way, and I3 indicates a pair of sulkies preparing for a start. Disposed in the spac between the parallel fences for movement along the starting stretch of the race-way, and operating at a level substantially within the height of the fences so as not to interfere with the patrons the attention of the horses, is my starting apparatus which consists generally of stream-lined carriages is; Hi individuallypowered'to travel when all horses inthe race are abreast trans versely alined. with the barrier, it is smartly elecally governing by rerno te control the movement visibility in observing the races or distracting ofthe carriages and the actuation of the barrier. Thecarriages and their mounting structure are identicalin constructionand a description of one will suflice for both Each carriage consists of a suitable frame or chassis 51 having front and rear, longitudinallyaimed rollers or wheels l 8 which engage the'topfface of a single ground track or monorail i9' paralleling the starting retc i heracerw y di tf he i e on posts 25 disposedinside and below the level of the outer face i2. By this construction, the carriages are guided smoothly in a straight path and theyare effectually held against both vertical and lateral displacement.

Disposed between the outer side of each carriage and the elevated guide rail 24 and below the plane of the latter are a plurality of horizontal conductor bars or members 2% which are adapted to be connected to a source of power and which are supported on posts 2?. Mounted on and projecting from the adjoining side of the carriage are contact rollers or trolleys 23 by which electrical current is supplied to operate the carriages and the displaceable barrier i5.

Motion is transmitted to each carriage It to propel it in a forward and reverse direction by an electric motor 29 mounted at one end of the chassis l1 and having its upright shaft 39 connected by a drive pinion 3! with a gear rack 32 applied to the web portion of the companion ground rail I 9. This drive motor is preferably of the shunt wound type for quick starting and stopping intermittent duty, and embodies therein the usual type of dynamic braking, so that when the race is to be started and the barrier 15 is to be raised, the carriages can be brought to a comparatively quick stop.

The displacement of the barrier is also electrically controlled and for this purpose an electric motor 33 of like type is employed for effecting its prompt raising clear of the race-way when the race is to be started. This barrier is preferably in the form of a flexible tape 34 detachably connected at its ends to crank arms 35 projecting forwardly or lengthwise from the opposing inner sides of the carriages to swing vertically. Each crank arm is connected to a transverse shaft 36 journaled in the companion carriagecha-ssis I! and driven from the motor 33 in any suitable manner, as for example, by a worm 31 on the motor-shaft and a worm wheel 39 on said transverse shaft. As shown in Figures 1 and 4, each arm 35 terminates at its free end in a laterally-offset portion 39 which overhangs the top of the inner fence II and a depending portion 40 disposed just inside the fence and to which the ends of the barrier tape are connected. The lower ends of the arm-portions 49 terminate substantially flush with the top of the fence ll, whereby there are no parts of the apparatus which objectionably protrude into the race-way area to cause accidents or distract the attention of the horses or interfere with the vision of the spectators.

The carriage drive and barrier actuating motors 29 and 33, respectively, are governed by one operator in a remote fashion from the control tower I6 which is equipped with the necessary control switches (not shown) for governing the motors to regulate the speed of the carriages with that of the horses and also to elevate the barrier I at such time as the horses are abreast of one another.

While manifestly simple and compact in construction, this apparatus is so designed that it can be readily installed, it is positive and reliable in operation, and it assures the proper starting of the races to the satisfaction of the drivers as well as the spectators. Furthermore, it requires but one operator to control it and all its parts, with the exception of the necessary flexible barrier tape 34, are located beyond the area of the race-way and below the level of the fences so as not to interfere in any way with the travel of the horses and sulkies along the race-way or obstruct the vision of the spectators.

I claim as my invention:

1. A race starting apparatus of the character described, comprising single, ground-engaging track rails disposed at opposite sides of the raceway along the starting path thereof, elevated guide tracks paralleling said track rails in spaced relation thereto, companion carriages having upper and lower portions adapted to be propelled along said rails and each having sets of guide rollers at its lower and upper portions for opposing vertical and lateral engagement with the companion track rails and guide tracks, respectively, a vertically-displaceable barrier member mounted on said carriages and extending transversely of the race-way, motors applied to said carriages for propelling them in unison along the race-way and for actuating said barrier member to and from its operative position, conductors adapted for connection to a source of power disposed parallel to the track rails, and trolleys in circuit with said motors and mounted on said carriages for engagement with said companion conductors.

2. A race starting apparatus of the character described, comprising single, ground-engaging track rails disposed at opposite sides of the raceway along the starting path thereof, elevated guide tracks paralleling said track rails in outwardly-spaced relation thereto, companion carriages having upper and lower portions movable along said rails and each having sets of guide rollers at its lower and upper portions for opposing vertical and lateral engagement with the companion track rails and guide tracks, respectively, means for propelling said carriages in unison along the track rails, companion verticallyswinging crank arms applied to the carriages at those sides thereof facing the race-way, a flexible barrier tape extending transversely of the raceway and connected at its ends to said crank arms, and means operatively connected to said crank arms to raise and lower the same to bring the barrier tape into and out of its operative position.

HOWARD A. PIERCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 647,166 Stedeker Apr. 10, 1900 650,514 Miles et a1 May 29, 1900 1,571,168 Gray Jan. 26, 1926 1,916,951 Healy July 4, 1933 1,930,780 Soules Oct. 1'7, 1933 2,002,427 Bacon May 21, 1935 2,024,879 Rush Dec. 17, 1935 2,119,073 Corrigan May 31, 1938 2,136,365 Marresford Nov. 15, 1938 2,461,780 Smith et a1. Feb. 15, 1949 

